Explain why birds can sit on power lines safely, whereas leaning a metal ladder up against a power line to fetch a stuck kite is extremely dangerous.

Question

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Answer 1

Textbook Question

Chapter 26, Problem 1Q

Explain why birds can sit on power lines safely, whereas leaning a metal ladder up against a power line to fetch a stuck kite is extremely dangerous.

Expert Solution & Answer

To determine

The reason why it is safe for the birds to sit on the power lines, but leaning a metal ladder against a power line is extremely dangerous.

Answer to Problem 1Q

The resistance of the bird is larger compared to the resistance of the wire between the bird’s feet, so that a very little current passes through the bird as it sits on the power line.

A metal ladder leaned against a power line will have a direct contact between the high potential line and ground which implies person standing on the ladder will have a larger potential difference between his hand and feet which produces large current through the person’s body large enough to cause substantial damage.

Explanation of Solution

Even though the bird’s feet are at high potential compared to the ground, the potential difference between the feet of the bird is very little since they are close together on the wire. And also the resistance of the bird is much greater when compared to the resistance of the wire between the bird’s feet. These two resistance are in parallel so that only a very little current will pass through the bird when it sits on the transmission line.

A metal ladder leaned against a power line will have a direct contact to the high potential line and ground so that the person standing on the ladder will have a larger potential difference between his hand and feet.

Even if the person’s resistance is large, the potential difference will also be so large to produce current through the person’s body large enough to cause severe damage or death.

Therefore, it is safe for the birds to sit on the power lines, but leaning a metal ladder against a power line is extremely dangerous.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!

02:07

Students have asked these similar questions

Why do you think it is safe for a small bird or a squirrel to stand on high voltage power lines, but it is not safe if you were to reach up and grab the exact same power line?

A student stands on a thick piece of insulating material, places her hand on top of a Van de Graaffgenerator, and then turns on the generator. Does she receive a shock?

Your car was hit by a high voltage DC power line, putting its entire metal body at a potential of 10 kV in relation to the ground. For your own safety, should you exit your car? Explain your response.

Answer 2

Textbook Question

Chapter 26, Problem 1Q

Explain why birds can sit on power lines safely, whereas leaning a metal ladder up against a power line to fetch a stuck kite is extremely dangerous.

Expert Solution & Answer

To determine

The reason why it is safe for the birds to sit on the power lines, but leaning a metal ladder against a power line is extremely dangerous.

Answer to Problem 1Q

The resistance of the bird is larger compared to the resistance of the wire between the bird’s feet, so that a very little current passes through the bird as it sits on the power line.

A metal ladder leaned against a power line will have a direct contact between the high potential line and ground which implies person standing on the ladder will have a larger potential difference between his hand and feet which produces large current through the person’s body large enough to cause substantial damage.

Explanation of Solution

Even though the bird’s feet are at high potential compared to the ground, the potential difference between the feet of the bird is very little since they are close together on the wire. And also the resistance of the bird is much greater when compared to the resistance of the wire between the bird’s feet. These two resistance are in parallel so that only a very little current will pass through the bird when it sits on the transmission line.

A metal ladder leaned against a power line will have a direct contact to the high potential line and ground so that the person standing on the ladder will have a larger potential difference between his hand and feet.

Even if the person’s resistance is large, the potential difference will also be so large to produce current through the person’s body large enough to cause severe damage or death.

Therefore, it is safe for the birds to sit on the power lines, but leaning a metal ladder against a power line is extremely dangerous.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!

02:07

Answer 3

Textbook Question

Chapter 26, Problem 1Q

Explain why birds can sit on power lines safely, whereas leaning a metal ladder up against a power line to fetch a stuck kite is extremely dangerous.

Expert Solution & Answer

To determine

The reason why it is safe for the birds to sit on the power lines, but leaning a metal ladder against a power line is extremely dangerous.

Answer to Problem 1Q

The resistance of the bird is larger compared to the resistance of the wire between the bird’s feet, so that a very little current passes through the bird as it sits on the power line.

A metal ladder leaned against a power line will have a direct contact between the high potential line and ground which implies person standing on the ladder will have a larger potential difference between his hand and feet which produces large current through the person’s body large enough to cause substantial damage.

Explanation of Solution

Even though the bird’s feet are at high potential compared to the ground, the potential difference between the feet of the bird is very little since they are close together on the wire. And also the resistance of the bird is much greater when compared to the resistance of the wire between the bird’s feet. These two resistance are in parallel so that only a very little current will pass through the bird when it sits on the transmission line.

A metal ladder leaned against a power line will have a direct contact to the high potential line and ground so that the person standing on the ladder will have a larger potential difference between his hand and feet.

Even if the person’s resistance is large, the potential difference will also be so large to produce current through the person’s body large enough to cause severe damage or death.

Therefore, it is safe for the birds to sit on the power lines, but leaning a metal ladder against a power line is extremely dangerous.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!

02:07

Answer 4

Textbook Question

Chapter 26, Problem 1Q

Explain why birds can sit on power lines safely, whereas leaning a metal ladder up against a power line to fetch a stuck kite is extremely dangerous.

Expert Solution & Answer

To determine

The reason why it is safe for the birds to sit on the power lines, but leaning a metal ladder against a power line is extremely dangerous.

Answer to Problem 1Q

The resistance of the bird is larger compared to the resistance of the wire between the bird’s feet, so that a very little current passes through the bird as it sits on the power line.

A metal ladder leaned against a power line will have a direct contact between the high potential line and ground which implies person standing on the ladder will have a larger potential difference between his hand and feet which produces large current through the person’s body large enough to cause substantial damage.

Explanation of Solution

Even though the bird’s feet are at high potential compared to the ground, the potential difference between the feet of the bird is very little since they are close together on the wire. And also the resistance of the bird is much greater when compared to the resistance of the wire between the bird’s feet. These two resistance are in parallel so that only a very little current will pass through the bird when it sits on the transmission line.

A metal ladder leaned against a power line will have a direct contact to the high potential line and ground so that the person standing on the ladder will have a larger potential difference between his hand and feet.

Even if the person’s resistance is large, the potential difference will also be so large to produce current through the person’s body large enough to cause severe damage or death.

Therefore, it is safe for the birds to sit on the power lines, but leaning a metal ladder against a power line is extremely dangerous.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!

02:07

Answer 5

Textbook Question

Answer 6

Textbook Question

Answer 7

Expert Solution & Answer

To determine

The reason why it is safe for the birds to sit on the power lines, but leaning a metal ladder against a power line is extremely dangerous.

Answer to Problem 1Q

The resistance of the bird is larger compared to the resistance of the wire between the bird’s feet, so that a very little current passes through the bird as it sits on the power line.

A metal ladder leaned against a power line will have a direct contact between the high potential line and ground which implies person standing on the ladder will have a larger potential difference between his hand and feet which produces large current through the person’s body large enough to cause substantial damage.

Explanation of Solution

Even though the bird’s feet are at high potential compared to the ground, the potential difference between the feet of the bird is very little since they are close together on the wire. And also the resistance of the bird is much greater when compared to the resistance of the wire between the bird’s feet. These two resistance are in parallel so that only a very little current will pass through the bird when it sits on the transmission line.

A metal ladder leaned against a power line will have a direct contact to the high potential line and ground so that the person standing on the ladder will have a larger potential difference between his hand and feet.

Even if the person’s resistance is large, the potential difference will also be so large to produce current through the person’s body large enough to cause severe damage or death.

Therefore, it is safe for the birds to sit on the power lines, but leaning a metal ladder against a power line is extremely dangerous.

Answer 8

Expert Solution & Answer

To determine

The reason why it is safe for the birds to sit on the power lines, but leaning a metal ladder against a power line is extremely dangerous.

Answer to Problem 1Q

The resistance of the bird is larger compared to the resistance of the wire between the bird’s feet, so that a very little current passes through the bird as it sits on the power line.

A metal ladder leaned against a power line will have a direct contact between the high potential line and ground which implies person standing on the ladder will have a larger potential difference between his hand and feet which produces large current through the person’s body large enough to cause substantial damage.

Explanation of Solution

Even though the bird’s feet are at high potential compared to the ground, the potential difference between the feet of the bird is very little since they are close together on the wire. And also the resistance of the bird is much greater when compared to the resistance of the wire between the bird’s feet. These two resistance are in parallel so that only a very little current will pass through the bird when it sits on the transmission line.

A metal ladder leaned against a power line will have a direct contact to the high potential line and ground so that the person standing on the ladder will have a larger potential difference between his hand and feet.

Even if the person’s resistance is large, the potential difference will also be so large to produce current through the person’s body large enough to cause severe damage or death.

Therefore, it is safe for the birds to sit on the power lines, but leaning a metal ladder against a power line is extremely dangerous.

Answer 9

Expert Solution & Answer

Answer 10

Expert Solution & Answer

Answer 11

To determine

The reason why it is safe for the birds to sit on the power lines, but leaning a metal ladder against a power line is extremely dangerous.

Answer 12

Answer to Problem 1Q

The resistance of the bird is larger compared to the resistance of the wire between the bird’s feet, so that a very little current passes through the bird as it sits on the power line.

A metal ladder leaned against a power line will have a direct contact between the high potential line and ground which implies person standing on the ladder will have a larger potential difference between his hand and feet which produces large current through the person’s body large enough to cause substantial damage.

Answer 13

Explanation of Solution

Even though the bird’s feet are at high potential compared to the ground, the potential difference between the feet of the bird is very little since they are close together on the wire. And also the resistance of the bird is much greater when compared to the resistance of the wire between the bird’s feet. These two resistance are in parallel so that only a very little current will pass through the bird when it sits on the transmission line.

A metal ladder leaned against a power line will have a direct contact to the high potential line and ground so that the person standing on the ladder will have a larger potential difference between his hand and feet.

Even if the person’s resistance is large, the potential difference will also be so large to produce current through the person’s body large enough to cause severe damage or death.

Therefore, it is safe for the birds to sit on the power lines, but leaning a metal ladder against a power line is extremely dangerous.